This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9 billion project to build the Barclays Center arena and 16 high-rise buildings at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake in 15 towers. New York State still calls it Atlantic Yards. Contact: AtlanticYardsReport[at]hotmail.com

She declined to say what made her a better qualified candidate than Ms. James but said she would release her full platform at her first fund-raising event....

Ms. James, who is in her late 40’s, said today that she felt that the race would come down to a debate over Atlantic Yards. Her district includes most of the site.

“I’m confident that Atlantic Yards was a primary reason for her candidacy since all the other issues she’s raised I’ve been on the forefront on in this district, including education and environment,” she said. “The only issue where there’s a major difference is Atlantic Yards.”

More from James

"I look forward to a spirited primary, and I look forward to her providing the answers" to the questions posed, James told me.

James will run on both the Democratic and Working Families Party lines; Hunley-Adossa is a Democrat, according to James. (I assumed she was, given family ties to Democrats--her daughter works for the District Attorney's office--so I didn't ask yesterday.)

James questioned Hunley-Adossa's commitment to environmental issues. "If she was there to protect the public," James asked, "why didn't she raise questions about removal of trees [in the Atlantic Yards footprint], the dust [from demolition activities], the impact on children in the shelter [on Dean Street]?"